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Pam Stevens-Reitz, RN, helps AbbraFreeman manage the large wound on herabdomen, the result of surgery for a doubleperforated bowel.

Wound Care Clinic Helps GratefulWoman Go From 'Spicy Disaster'to Empowered Patient When your life is a hot mess – or a “spicy disaster” – like AbbraFreeman’s, you need your people to rally around you, and youneed supportive and skilled healthcare workers like Abbra foundat Benefis Health System. She sends her gratitude to everyone who saved her life after adouble perforated bowel and who is helping her get back on herfeet. As June is Wound Healing Awareness Month, the Wound CareClinic at Benefis is recognizing the challenges experienced bypatients like Abbra whose lives are affected daily by severeand/or chronic wounds and is bringing awareness to thecommunity of the support given by our certified wound carespecialists. Abbra said she would have had a bumpy road without a lotof support from the Benefis Wound Care Clinic and herBenefis Community Care home health nurse.

"I like that I was empowered to be involved. I could reach out for help, but also I could be active in myrecovery and have some power,” she said. “I wasn't just sidelined waiting for my body to get better, but Iwas actively making it better." Click here to read more of Abbra's story and learn how being a Sept. 11, 2001, responder changed herperspective.

The Wound Care Clinic includes a team of 12 (not all pictured), including two physicians, seven wound-care certified nurses (one of whom also specializes in ostomy care), one hyperbaric tech, one wound carecoordinator, and one front office staff member. Diane Nash, RN, has been in the Wound Care Clinic sinceit opened in September 2006.

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May 31, 2021

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"They will fly with us always."

Gracie McCabe

Memorial Day

Remember: MemorialDay Affects PayrollDeadlines

The Finance and HumanResources departments willbe closed today, May 31, inobservance of MemorialDay.

That means all managers,directors, and editors needto know that the payrolldeadlines will change forthe week of the MemorialDay holiday. Timecardedits and approvals aredue by 10 a.m. Tuesday,June. 1. Dual bills are due at 1 p.m.Tuesday, June 1. Thank you for helping tomeet these deadlines! Itwill help ensure that allemployees see their correctpay on Friday, June 4.

Click For MoreInformation

Café Corner:Memorial DayClosures, Reduced

Company News

This Saturday, Pause to HonorThose Lost In Mercy FlightCrashA flight home from a training exercisebecame a tragedy 34 years ago when aMercy Flight helicopter crashed inHannan Gulch near Augusta. We honor the legacy of those who diedthat day: Mercy Flight pilot Jim Meyer; Dr. Mike Grimes, head of theemergency room at Columbus Hospital; Dr. Gary Stoick, head of theemergency room at Deaconess Hospital; and nurse Dorothy "Dori"Berndt. Columbus and Deaconess later merged to become BenefisHealth System. After the June 5, 1987, crash, the Army National Guard, park rangers,highway patrol officers, sheriff’s deputies, and volunteers banded togetherfor a four-day search across 4,000 square miles to find the missinghelicopter and its passengers. Click here to read more. Jim, Mike, Gary, and Dori left behind four spouses, 14 children, anddevastated colleagues. Their deaths helped usher in new practices thatbenefited those who took to the skies in the years to come.

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Benefis Clinic for Employees'Children Spreads ImmunityOne of the first to get her COVID-19vaccination at the Benefis clinic foremployees' children, Gracie McCabe,13, knew she didn't want to risk anothercase of COVID-19. Gracie came down with the disease inNovember, and her sense of smell is stillnot fully recovered.

"She was excited to get the vaccine," hermom, Rose, said. "She understands theimportance for her health and the impactit will make in the community." Rose, who works in Human Resources, took her daughter to breakfast inthe East Cafe after her shot. She gave Wes and his cooking five stars. Chloe Buley, 12, said she got her vaccine to protect her dad and hersister, who are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. Her mom, Rachel, isa histotechnician in the laboratory. For Blake Larson, 13, the reason to get the shot was simple: "So I don'tget COVID." His mom, Katy, is a food technician.

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Hours for Grounds &Grains

East Café will have fewerstations open today.

In observance of MemorialDay today, the EastCafé will close the followingstations: Flavor & Fire, Fieldof Greens, and the deli. Grounds & Grains will beclosed today. BeginningTuesday, June 1, the SouthTower coffee shop will beopen 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Benefis CommunityCare is Closed TodayBenefis Community CareEquipment & SupportServices is closed today,Monday, May 31 inrecognition of MemorialDay. Community Care will haveon-call staff for both patienttransport and DME deliveryin the event of an urgent oremergent needs. Pleasecall (406) 899-3442 forurgent courier services orpatient transports. Pleasecall (406) 771-6400 forurgent DME needs.

Health

New Results NoonClass Starts NextMonday

The new Results forAdults noon training

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HR News

COVID-19 Clause Ends forShort-Term DisabilityBenefis has returned to our originalCOVID-19 benefits policy. Any employeeexperiencing symptoms from COVID-19vaccination or who tests positive forCOVID-19 (regardless of beingpreviously vaccinated or not) will have tofollow the same policy as regularillnesses/accidents and will no longerhave immediate access to their short-term disability bank. With the policy, the first 24 hours off work will come out of your paid timeoff (PTO). Then you can access your short-term disability benefit. Please refer to the leave of absence benefit policy and paid time offpolicy. You can contact the HR benefits group to help with any additionalquestions.

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June 1: Mask MandateChanges for VaccinatedEmployees in Select AreasAs the number of COVID-19 casescontinues to decline, Benefis HealthSystem will lift the mask mandate forfully vaccinated employees beginningtomorrow, Tuesday, June 1. You are considered fully vaccinated twoweeks after the second shot of the Pfizeror Moderna vaccines or two weeks afterreceiving the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Employees who have not been fully vaccinated, whether due to receivingan exemption or personal choice, will be required to mask at all timeswhile at work. In addition, masks will continue to be required in selectpatient care areas. Senior Services employees are required to be vaccinated by July 1.

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session will be from noon to12:30 p.m. Mondays,Wednesdays, andThursdays from June 7 toJuly 15. The class is high-intensity,circuit-based with variouscardio and free-weightexercises with lots ofmodifications available. Tofollow COVID-19 guidelines,class size will be limited tomaintain social distancingand there will be no sharingof equipment. The sessionis six weeks and costs $66. Classes are located inMedical Office Building 4 onthe second floor in the gymwithin the physical therapyarea. To sign up, call (406) 731-8964 or email CarleyKnudson.

Other News

Server Patch is NextWeek

Information TechnologyServices will patch serversfrom 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. June 8-9. Check the list of affectedapplications to see if you'reimpacted.

Security Corner:Beware of Vishing

When you think of a cyber-criminal, you probably think

More than 84% of employees system-wide have been vaccinated orscheduled their appointments. This includes 100% of the BHS Board andSystem Leadership, 93% of providers, and 82% of Senior Servicesemployees. We hope we can soon put the pandemic behind us and returnto normal!

If you have additional questions, reach out to your manager or HumanResources.

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Foundation News

Mayfaire Raffle Tickets AreNow Available Online!You could win $2,000 this summer withthe return of the annual Mayfaireraffle. Tickets are available online andat the Foundation office in the ThomasBuilding (1200 25th St. S.), or call the Foundation at (406) 455-5840.Tickets are $10 each, three for $25, or a book of 10 for $85. You can usepayroll deduct or a debit card. The drawing is Aug. 7, and you don't needto be present to win.

Click Here For More Information

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Education

We'll Help You Become a CNAwith UPBenefis provides a scholarship that willcover tuition, fees, and supplies forpeople who wish to become a certifiedmedical assistant through the Universityof Providence Medical AssistantCertificate Program in Great Falls. This certificate program introducesstudents to the healthcare profession byteaching them basic clinical andadministrative skills. Students who receive the scholarship are expectedto work for Benefis for two years. Click here for more information.

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Become an LPN With GreatFalls College MSUThe LPN program at Great Falls CollegeMSU includes part- and full-time options.

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of an evil mastermind sittingbehind a computer,launching sophisticatedattacks over the internet. While some of today’s cybercriminals do use advancedtechnologies, many simplyuse the phone to trick theirvictims. There are two bigadvantages to using aphone: Unlike other attacks,there are fewer securitytechnologies that can detectand stop a phone callattack; also, it is mucheasier for criminals toconvey emotion and buildtrust over the phone, whichmakes it easier to trick theirvictims. Click here to read how toavoid these attacks.

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Students can study part time for four semesters or full time for twosemesters, with classes online and in-person through the affordableprogram (and Benefis can help with that, too! See the tuition article). If you're interested, contact Lauren Swant, nursing program director, byemail or by phone at (406) 771-4358.

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June 30: Benefis TuitionReimbursement ApplicationDeadlineDid you know that Benefis HealthSystem offers a tuition reimbursementprogram? Benefis employees can receive up to$3,000 per year. Applications for tuition reimbursement for fall 2021 are due byWednesday, June 30. Click below for eligibility details and application instructions.

Learn More About Tuition Reimbursement

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Tomorrow: ApplicationDeadline for HealthcareScholarshipsScholarship applications are due soonfor the Benefis Foundation’s HealthcareScholarship Program. The deadline to apply for both fall2021 and spring 2022 is June 1, 2021.The award maximum is $2,500 a semester or $5,000 a year and is basedon funds available.

The Benefis Foundation’s Healthcare Scholarship Program is designed tohelp students from Great Falls and the surrounding region pursue theirdreams of becoming healthcare providers. Thanks to the generosity of many donors, Benefis Foundation hasawarded more than $1.38 million in scholarships to students pursuing adegree, certification, or advancement in a medically related field since theprogram began in 1998. Visit the Foundation website to apply.

Learn More About the Scholarship Program

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CNA Program Application DueTuesdayThe CNA Growth Program is open to allCNAs and PCTs. This includes HomeCare, Senior Services, and outpatientand inpatient care. Applications are due by June 1, Sept. 1,Dec. 1, and March 1. Bonus checks arebased on hours worked and the levelachieved. Bonuses are paid quarterly. The program rewards and encouragesCNAs, PCTs, and unit secretaries whopractice above the expected level ofcompetency. All information andapplications can be found on the Intranetunder clinical resources. Scroll down toCNA Career Growth Program. For more information, please contact Rita McKinney or your manager.

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Important Dates

Free Voyagers Tickets AreAvailable for CaretakerAppreciation NightThe University of Providence is hostingCaretaker Appreciation Night at theGreat Falls Voyagers baseball game onFriday, June 4. Gates open an hour before the 7 p.m. match-up againstthe Billings Mustangs. Benefis has 100 free tickets to the event. If you are interested inattending the game, please stop by the front desk at Human Resources topick up tickets for you and your family. Tickets are available while supplieslast. HR also has 2021 Voyager game schedules available.

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